Jakarta (Indonesia), 17 February 2010 - UNODC has recently started two anti-corruption projects titled -
Support to the Fight Against Corruption in Indonesia, funded by European Commission and the Norwegian Government funded -
Strengthening the capacity of five anti-corruption agencies in Indonesia. As part of these projects, UNODC and its associate, the Basel Institute on Governance conducted a preliminary training needs analyses between the 1 February and 4 February, 2010. The scoping mission was intended to understand the specialized training courses required by the anti-corruption agencies in Indonesia, especially relating to the area of asset recovery and asset tracing. Moreover, it was also intended to better understand corruption and money laundering challenges in Indonesia.

Ms. Phyllis Atkinson, Senior Asset Recovery Specialist and Mr. Tom Lasich, Head Training were the two representatives from the Basel Institute on Governance. On the first day, an initial meeting was held at UNODC office with partner organizations;
Transparency International Indonesia,
Indonesia Corruption Watch,
Partnership for Governance Reform and
European Commission, as donor. "In addition to conducting a training needs analysis of various law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of corruption, we would also seek information regarding the Indonesian criminal legal system and the implementation of relevant anti-corruption laws to ensure the development of an effective training programme", said Phyllis Atkinson during the meeting.

This was followed by visits and follow up visits and discussions with the key-anti-corruption institutions
KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission),
Kejaksaan Agung (Attorney General's Office),
Indonesian National Police NCB-Interpol,
PPATK (Indonesian FIU),
Bank of Indonesia, Ministry of Law and Human Rights and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They will provide the training. World Bank and the US DOJ was also consulted.

Ms. Risma Indriyani of the Directorate of International Law of The Ministry of Law and Human Rights mentioned: "As the central authority for mutual legal assistance, it has not been an easy task for us with regard to asset tracing and asset recovery, owing mainly to lack of networking and unnecessary bureaucracy. That is why we are eager to have a joint institutions training like this so that in the future we can get over this problem".

More suggestions were came up during the needs assessment. "Law enforcers in Indonesia just want to imprison the corrupt. But actual asset recovery is also valuable and important for the country. Therefore, such training is necessary to be followed by the law enforcement officers", said Mr. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Directorate General of Legal Affairs and International Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Out of all the visited agencies, none refused to participate this promising training. The Basel Institute on Governance team enjoyed meaningful discussions with a number of officials, who were clearly willing to share their knowledge and to improve their capacity to fight corruption. The desire to improve inter-agency co-operation in the interests of combating corruption and confiscating the proceeds of crime, was also expressed on a number of occasions, all of which heralds well for the success of any training programme.

UNODC will soon be commencing several specialized training related to fighting corruption. Approximately 420 senior law enforcement agency personnel will be trained in advanced technical investigative techniques and relevant managerial skills.